2026 Community Catalyst Award Nominee: The North Bloom Magazine

The North Bloom Magazine is a Minnesota publication built around “Plants, People, Purpose.” Led by Editor-in-Chief Angelique Zerillo, the magazine covers cannabis through the people and communities experiencing Minnesota’s evolving market firsthand, blending education, wellness information, patient and clinician perspectives, and stories from local businesses.

Its role is especially important in a newer cannabis market, where many readers are encountering regulated cannabis for the first time and may be unsure where to find reliable information. The North Bloom helps fill that gap by making practical cannabis education approachable and by placing health, safety, and responsible use alongside stories about entrepreneurship, culture, and community.

The publication also deliberately broadens whose experiences are visible in cannabis media. Women, veterans, BIPOC entrepreneurs, family businesses, clinicians, patients, and educators all have a place in its coverage. That editorial approach does more than diversify the stories being told. It gives readers a fuller picture of who is shaping Minnesota’s cannabis landscape and helps communities see themselves reflected in conversations about safety, wellness, business, and access.

Because The North Bloom is distributed free of charge, its educational value is not limited to subscribers or business insiders. Readers can encounter information about cannabis in places and formats that feel familiar and accessible, making the publication a practical entry point for people who may never seek out a formal cannabis training or policy resource.

The magazine’s strength lies in its ability to make cannabis information feel local, relevant, and human. By combining practical education with community storytelling, The North Bloom helps readers understand not just what is changing in Minnesota cannabis, but who those changes affect and where people can turn for credible information.

The North Bloom Magazine reflects the spirit of the Community Catalyst Award by using journalism and storytelling to make cannabis education more accessible, amplify often-overlooked voices, and help Minnesota communities navigate a rapidly changing market with better information and greater confidence.

Website: The North Bloom Magazine

“Bloom Multimedia LLC, dba The North Bloom Magazine, is humbled and honored to be recognized by Americans for Safe Access for our collective impact in advancing cannabis safety education. Team Bloom takes great pride in curating content that speaks directly to the needs of novice plant consumers across Minnesota’s marketplace. In each print issue, we have one goal in mind as we guide readers toward safe choices: Grow public trust. We see that when we earn the public’s trust, we hold its attention. We know that when we have that, we ultimately have an audience willing to become an educated, empowered, engaged, and exploding consumer base.”